New Delhi: People who followed the 2014 Lok Sabha election will remember the music videos that accompanied the political parties’ campaigns: There was “Man Se Hain Mulayam”, an official adaptation of Billy Joel’s “We Didn’t Start The Fire”, by the Samajwadi Party (SP), and “Achhe Din Aane Waale Hai” of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
It’s five years later and India’s political parties have some more tricks up their sleeve that gel better with the changed times: From web series and a “fact-checker”, to an entire “advertisement” channel, and “biopics”.
ThePrint takes you through the arsenal at politicians’ disposal this campaign season.
Web series
The All India Trinamool Congress of Mamata Banerjee has launched a web series Pradhan Mantri Hisab Do, available on YouTube and Twitter, which seeks to compare the welfare schemes launched by PM Narendra Modi at the Centre and Chief Minister Banerjee in West Bengal.
The first episode dwelt on the education of the girl child.
Another web series, Modi: The Journey of a Common Man, seeks to delve into PM Modi’s rise to the country’s top office and is streaming on ErosNow. The 10-part series is directed by film-maker Umesh Shukla of Oh My God fame.
Popular singer Sonu Nigam has lent his voice to a poem penned by Modi that features in the series.
‘Jumla’ Meter
The Trinamool Congress has also developed a ‘Jumla Meter‘ that it claims “fact-checks” announcements made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
'Expiry Babu' made several tall claims at two rallies in #Bengal on April 3, 2019
Here's a #FactCheck of Expiry Babu's #Jumla speeches on our #New section #JumlaMeter https://t.co/Oua8UiZJal pic.twitter.com/5p4YxdyTg9
— All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) April 4, 2019
Movies
The two apparent protagonists of this election — Modi and Congress chief Rahul Gandhi — are also subjects of movies that seek to take their life story to the people.
My name is RaGa, a biopic on Gandhi directed by Rupesh Paul, traces the early years as well as political leap of the Nehru-Gandhi heir. The teaser of the film came out on 10 February. The release was scheduled for April but may be deferred as the Election Commission is examining whether that would violate the model code of conduct.
https://youtu.be/XqaI7-UNfMk
PM Narendra Modi, a movie starring Vivek Oberoi and directed by Omung Kumar of Mary Kom fame, has a similar theme as the web series on the BJP leader. It was scheduled for release on 5 April, but the date has been deferred pending a final call from the Election Commission.
Earlier this year, a movie depicting the life of Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray hit the screens. It was produced by Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut, and featured celebrated actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui as Thackeray.
NaMo TV
Is it a news channel, or an advertisement platform? NaMo TV, a channel that covers events addressed by PM Modi, surprised audiences when it suddenly began to be beamed by DTH and cable operators on 31 March.
The channel came to our TV screens without ever applying for a licence from the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting.
Making matters murkier is the fact that DTH operator Tata Sky said they were receiving the feed from the BJP, and the jury is out on whether the channel constitutes a model code violation.
The day we were most looking forward to is here!
At 5 PM, lakhs of Chowkidars from different parts of India will interact in the historic #MainBhiChowkidar programme.
This is an interaction you must not miss.
Watch it live on the NaMoApp or NaMo TV. pic.twitter.com/XXKkLUuE7X
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 31, 2019
Also read: Opposition parties will have to copy Modi’s permanent campaign trick, sooner or later
Music videos
Music videos continue to remain a tool of choice for political leaders. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has launched a music video, titled ‘Maa, Mati, Manush (Mother, Soil, and People)’, for her party that depicts a peaceful West Bengal while people in other parts of the country are distressed by riots and violence.
I am very happy to share the new music video “Maa, Mati, Manush” for the forthcoming #LokSabhaElections2019
আসন্ন #লোকসভানির্বাচন উপলক্ষে তৃণমূল কংগ্রেসের নতুন মিউজিক ভিডিও 'মা, মাটি, মানুষ' আপনাদের সাথে শেয়ার করলাম। আশা করি আপনাদের ভাল লাগবে। pic.twitter.com/Doky036ICU
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) April 4, 2019
The BJP, meanwhile, has fashioned several videos out of its ‘Main Bhi Chowkidar‘ campaign, targeting different states.
Another video draws on the BJP’s campaign slogan, ‘Modi hai toh mumkin hai‘, which PM Modi first used after India’s 26 February airstrikes on Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terror camps in Pakistan. The IAF strikes came after a JeM attack killed 40 CRPF personnel in Kashmir.
Also read: Bollywood outcast Vivek Oberoi returns with PM Narendra Modi by his side to reset his career